Using remote learning to teach clinicians manual wheelchair skills: a cohort study with pre- vs post-training comparisons

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol
• Personal Author:
  Worobey, Lynn A. ; Kirby, R. Lee ; Cowan, Rachel E. ; Dyson-Hudson, Trevor A. ; Shea, Mary ; Heinemann, Allen W. ; Pedersen, Jessica Presperin ; Hibbs, Rachel ; Boninger, Michael L.
• Description:
  Purpose:
  
  To test the hypothesis that remote learning to teach clinicians manual wheelchair skills is efficacious.
  
  Materials and Methods:
  
  A convenience sample of therapists (physical and occupational) and students were enrolled in pairs in a cohort study with pre- versus post-training comparisons. The intervention was a hybrid of self-study and hands-on practice paired with remote feedback for ten intermediate and advanced manual wheelchair skills. Participants practiced with self-selected frequency and duration, uploading a session log and video(s) to an online platform. A remote trainer provided asynchronous feedback prior to the next practice session. Capacity and confidence in completing the ten skills were evaluated using the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q). Knowledge of wheelchair skills training and motor learning was assessed using a 62-item Knowledge Test. Secondary outcome measures included skill achievement, as confirmed by submitted video recordings, and participant feedback about the training.
  
  Results:
  
  Across 41participants, scores were higher at follow-up compared to baseline for WST-Q capacity (73.9±19.1 vs 16.8±15.6, p<0.001), WST-Q confidence (80.1±12.2 vs 47.6±18.2, p=0.003) and knowledge (70.8±7.5 vs 67.0±5.4, p=0.004).
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Remote learning can increase wheelchair skills capacity and confidence as well as knowledge about such training and assessment. This model should be further investigated as a delivery method for training rehabilitation professionals.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Clinician Cohort Studies Humans Learning Motor Skills Rehabilitation Remote Learning Surveys And Questionnaires Wheelchair Wheelchairs
• Source:
  Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 17(7):752-759
• Pubmed ID:
  32809896
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8204376
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  K23 HD096134/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U48 DP000025/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  17
• Issue:
  7
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e68871747935e6e705a69487ca342c4eeaf359dbef37ff80327383a40295d575
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/107359/cdc_107359_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.07 MB ]